potter



N0. 607,|29. Patented July I27 |898. S. A. POTTER.

KITE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mi Noam: PETERS co4 momMmo., WASHINGTON, D c.

Nrrn STATES vtrucs.

ArENr KITE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,129, dated July 12, 1 898. Application filed September 24:, V1897. Serial No. 652,892. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. POTTER, of Washington, in the District o f Columbia, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Kites, of which the following is a specifi-4 lcells of which will beV of such `form as lto present an increased sustaining-sin'face and insure steadiness in ilying.

IV ith these ends in view my invention consists, primarily, of forming the cells with inwardly and downwardly inclined side surfaces as distinguished from vertical side surfaces.

The invention also consists in maintaining the form of the cells by two main trusses ex,- tending across one another between the opposite corners of the cells.

The invention also consists in connecting the cells by longitudinal rods extending from the corners of one cell to the opposing corners of the other.

The invention also consists in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a kite having my invention embodied therein and in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation through one of the cells on the line a a of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the kite. Fig. 3 is a side elevation in a slightlymodified form. Fig. e is a perspective view of one of the sockets by which the vertical struts are detachably connected to the upper and lower bars of the cells. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the end of the horizontal strut, showing the manner in which'it is de-` tachably connected to the side bars of the cells. Fig. 6 is aperspective of my kite, showing the cells of a different form. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, and 3, my improved kite in its preferred form is composed of a front cell l and a rear cellv2, identical in form and construction and diamond-shaped in cross-section, thereby presenting each two downwardly and inwardly inclined side-sus `taining surfaces 3 and 4:. ,i Each cell consists of a frame'comprising an upper longitudinal K bar 5, a lower bar o', parallel to it, and two longitudinal side bars/7.v These bars are mainltained in position the proper distance apart `by vertical and horizontal struts 8 and 9,which cross each other and which are connected at their ends to the upperand lower and'side bars,

respectively: The two frames thus formed are connected together in a single frame by for1ning allthe longitudinal bars continuous; but it is obvious that the upper and lower bars only may be continuous, the other two being Vseparated vbetween the cells, as shown in Fig.

a The sustaining-surfaces of the cells are formed by extending around the four longitudinal bars at their front and rear ends, where they are trussed, two bands of some suitable material-such as silk, linen, or other light fabricwhich is fastened to the bars where it passes over the same and drawn tightly,there by forming two diamond-shaped cells presenting downwardly and inwardly inclined sidesustaining surfaces, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. The width of the materialcomposing the cell-surfaces is such that the cells will be separated by a suitable space, thus permitting such action of the air-currents as will insure the proper suspension of the kite in the air.

By forming the cells diamond-shaped, as described, each side of the cell presents a distinct sustaining-surface, and by reason of the downward and inward inclination of the lower sustaining-surfaces ,the air-currents will tend by acting equably on its inclined surfaces to steady the kite and prevent it from darting.

It will be observed that to maintain the shape of the cells I employ two struts for each cell, which cross each other and which extend from the opposing corners of the cells. This arrangement produces aframe simple in construction and of minimum weight, and in connection with the extended sustaining-sur- IOO faces of the cells the kite possesses the features which are most favorable for effective action in flying.

IVhen flying, the kite assumes a position inclined upward at an angle of about twenty degrees, as shownin Fig. 1, in which position the front cell-surfaces deflect the air-currents to the rear cell, and it is due to this interference of the currents that the kite is properly suspended in the air.

In the drawings I have shown the struts S and 9 detachably connected to the longitudinal cell-bars to produce a collapsible frame for convenience in packing and transporting. This result may be accomplished by various means, but I prefer the construction shown as being simple and effective. On reference to Figs. 2, 4, and 5 it will be seen that each of the upper and lower bars has fixed to it inwardly-extending metal sockets 10, which receive the ends of the vertical struts. These sockets are formed with lips 1l, which embrace the bars, and with side flanges 12, bearing on the bars to maintain the position of the sockets. The ends of the struts are formed to fit snugly in the sockets and may be removed therefrom when it is desired to collapse the frame. Each of the horizontal struts has its ends forked, as shown in Fig. 5, to straddle the side bars, the forked ends being conveniently formed by notching the ends of the strut, as at 13, and applying thereto a cleat lf-l. To prevent the strutfrom slipping along the bars, the latter are recessed, as at 15, to receive the notched end of the strut.

The belly-band or bridle of a kite of this form consists of a loop 16, attached at its ends to the lower longitudinal bar G at about the centers of the cell-surfaces, the loop being secured to the main ilying-string 17.

In Fig. 0 I have shown a modified form of my kite. In this case instead of forming the cells diamond-shaped they are of trapezoidal form,with upper and lower parallel surfaces 18 and 19 and with two downwardly and inwardlyinclined surfaces 20. The shape of these cells is maintained in a manner similar to the diamond-shaped cells-that is, by two truss-rods 2l, which extend diagonally across one another from the diagonally opposite corners of the cells. The two cells are connected by the longitudinal rods 22,and the bridle or belly-band consists of a loop 23, attached at its ends to the lower corners of the front cell, and to this loop the main fiyingstring 2l is secured.

In both of the forms of kites described it is seen that the cells present each four sustaining-surfaces, two oi' which are inclined downward and inward to insure steadiness in flying, and that, further, in both cases the shape of these cells is maintained by but two struts, which arrangement combines extreme lightness with simplicity and increased sustaining-surface.

IIaving thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. rlhe improved kite comprising a plurality of open-ended cells having downwardly and inwardly inclined sustaining-surfaces, and suitable connections between said cells maintaining them in fixed relations.

2. The improved kite comprising a plurality of open-ended, four-sided cells, said cells having two of their sides inclining inward and downward toward each other, and suitable connections between said cells maintaining them in fixed relations.

3. In a cellular kite the combination with a cell, of longitudinal bars at the corners thereof and two truss-rods crossing each other and connected at their ends to the bars at the op posing corners of the cells.

4. The improved cellularkite composed of a plurality of diamond-shaped, open-ended cells, and suitable connections between said cells maintaining themin fixed relation 5. The improved cellular kite comprising a plurality of diamond shaped, open ended cells, vertical and horizontal struts crossing each other and extending between the opposing corners of said cells, and suitable connections between said cells maintaining them in fixed relations.

G. The improved cellular kite consisting of an upper longitudinal bar 5, a lower longitudinal bar G extending thereunder and parallel to the same, two longitudinal side bars 7 extending on opposite sides of the upper and lower bars and about midway between the same, vertical struts S connected at their en ds to the upper and lower bars, horizontal struts 9 crossing the vertical struts and connected at their ends to the side bars, and bands or coverings applied to said longitudinal bars, in closing the struts and extending diagonally from bar to bar and forming inclined sustaining-surfaces at the front and rear of the kite.

. 7. The combination with a cellular kite having front and rear diamond-shaped openended cells, and upper and lower longitudinal bars connecting said cells, of a bridle or bellyband connected to the lower longitudinal bar and adapted to be attached to the main string.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 20th day oi' September, 1S97, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

sAMUnL A. rornn.

IVitnesses:

CHARLES E. Bronnen, XV. R. KENNEDY.

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